2.5m python dumped in bus from Bulawayo

IN a suspected case of witchcraft, a dangerous-looking python measuring about 2,5 metres was on Sunday found coiled in a sack left at an Inter Africa bus garage in Mutare.

The snake is suspected to have been dumped in an Inter Africa bus coming from Bulawayo by an unknown passenger who boarded the bus at Nyika Growth Point in Masvingo Province.

The reptile was discovered in the lost and found room at bus company's garage along St Helens Drive in Nyakamete Industrial Area of Mutare when staff was helping a passenger to find his lost luggage. Inter-Africa Mutare, branch manager, Mr Kudakwashe Nedziwe, confirmed the incident and said they discovered the python after a passenger had come looking for his lost luggage.

"We were looking for a passenger's luggage before we discovered some movement in a yellow sack. Further investigations revealed that it was a big snake, a python. We immediately alerted our superiors," said Nedziwe.

He was advised by his superiors to sprinkle the snake with the‘Alpha and Omega' holy water, which according to the African Apostolic Church (Mwazha) leaders, "has the power to weaken all evil beings and creatures". They proceeded to burn the snake but sensing danger, the snake tried to escape and it slithered for about 20 metres before it was cornered and attacked with stones. It died on the spot.

"Shockingly, we later discovered a traditional necklace with red beads after the snake had died," added Nedziwe. The conductor of the Bulawayo-Mutare bus in which the snake was dumped, Collen Rusike told The Weekender that the owner of the sack had boarded the bus at Nyika Growth Point.

"I do not know when he got off the bus but the owner of that sack boarded the bus at Nyika when we were coming from Bulawayo. "We learnt that Tsikamutanda was in Nyika around that period so we strongly believe that the owner could have been running away from the witch-hunter," he said. Nedziwe and Rusike, were accompanied by Pastor Matasva from African Apostolic Church who said the exposure of the snake was a sign of the times. Christians, he added, should not be puzzled by such news since God said in Mark 16 verse 17 to 20:

"And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."